Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang mabasa ang mga messages nila. What the heck? Agad kong nireplyan si Travis.
Scarlet: uwi ka na, may nagsundo na sakin
Travis: u sure?
Scarlet: oo
Travis: nah haha :)
Kumunot ang noo ko at naglakad na ulit. Napahinto ako nang makita si Travis na kakalabas lang ng elevator. Binaba niya ang phone niya saka nilagay sa bulsa. Ngumisi siya nang magtama ang tingin namin.
Tangina talaga nitong lalaking 'to.
Lumingon ako kay Gail na kakagaling lang sa loob ng astro, "Let's go together?" she asked, smiling.
Nagisip pa ako ng ilang segundo bago umiling habang naka-ngiti. "Oh okay," aniya. Humakbang na ulit siya nang hawakan ko ang braso niya.
Her brows went up, lumingon muna ako kay Travis na nakaupo sa bench. "Ah, if Eric asked you about me. Can you tell him that I went home early because I'm sick?" sabi ko since magkakakilala naman kami.
Gail's face went confused. "Why? Are you guys on a quarrel?" she chuckled.
I bitterly smiled. "Kinda," I nodded. "And can you also text me if he already left?" I asked with hopeful eyes.
"I think he's in the lobby," I added.
"Sure thing," ngumiti siya at naglakad na papunta sa elevator. Gail was very nice to me since then.
Hinintay ko pa siyang makaalis nang nakasimangot akong naglakad papunta kay Travis. He was just raising a brow while staring at me. His arms were crossed over his chest. Nakasuot siya ng gucci shirt and jeans. I hissed and rolled my eyes when I sit next to him.
Panira ng araw kahit kailan.
Tumayo siya at tumigil nang hindi ako sumunod, kaya umupo nalang siya ulit. "Why?" tanong niya.
"Why?" I mocked him. "D'yan ka lang, may inaantay ako."
Hindi na siya nagsalita nang kinalkal ko na ulit ang phone ko. Nang makatanggap ng text galing kay Gail ay tumayo na 'ko. She said that Eric went home already.
I'm not talking until we went on a Japanese restaurant and our parents weren't here. Nakaupo kami sa table na may dalawang couch pero magkatabi kami sa isa. I was the one near the wall.
"Where's tito and tita?" kalmadong tanong ko. "And mom," dagdag ko pa.
"They're still working," he answered while he was busy looking at the menu.
"What? I thought we're gonna have dinner with them?" mabilis kong tanong.
He smirked and looked at me, "You thought wrong, baby."
I exhaled dramatically and massaged my head, trying to calm myself. Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi bago kinurot ang braso niya.
"Ouch!" he hurtly whispered. He held my hand trying to stop it. Other people were looking at us.
Hindi parin ako tumitigil. "Kung alam ko lang, edi sana nasa date ako ngayon," I glared at him.
Binitawan ko na siya. He pouted and held a tissue on the table. Pinunas niya 'yon sa braso niya at may nakita akong dugo roon. He freaking deserve it.
Tumawag siya ng waiter at ako naman ay nagsimula nang tumingin sa menu. "What's yours?" tanong niya nang tapos na siyang magorder ng kan'ya. Tinaas ko naman ang tingin sa waiter.
"One—" agad na nabaling ang tingin ko kay Eric na nakatingin sa relo habang naglalakad. I muttered a curse and covered my face with the menu folder. I slid down to the couch until my head was already positioned near the table.
"Hey, what are you doing?" rinig kong tanong ni Travis. I bit my lower lip in anger. Nilabas ko ang middle finger ko sa labas ng menu. I heard a chuckle from the waiter.
"What's yours? Hey," Travis tried to get the menu out of my face but I pulled it back.
"Kahit ano!" I angerly whispered.
After that, I wen't back to normal and I didn't talk with Travis even if we went home already. Buti nalang at hindi ko na ulit nakita pa si Eric. Two days passed and If I'm not doing a graduation practice, I'm doing the runway walk rehearsal and vice versa. Sometimes, I still go out with Eric.
I decided to ask my friends who wants to join me in Ilocos because it's far and I don't want to travel alone with a car driver. I told my mom to get me a driver in the meantime because I don't want to get exhausted driving hours.
Sa kanilang tatlo ay si Thea lang ang sinipag na sumama. "Papi lang talaga hanap ko do'n," she giggled while fixing her pillow.
We're now on our way to Ilocos. "Pa'no na long time crush mo n'yan?" tanong ko naman, nang-aasar.
"Aba s'yempre! mananatiling loyal 'to kay Alec," she did a pogi sign na tinawanan ko lang.
Nang makarating kami sa venue ay marami na agad nahaligap ang mga mata ko na kilalang modelo sa iba't ibang kompanya.
"Omg! Nandito si Xylo!" I looked at Thea na napatalon sa kilig.
"Fiancée na nyan si Lovi," paninira ko.
"Kahit na 'no! My god, magpapapicture talaga ako mamaya," she was excited.
Dumiretso na ako sa backstage at iniwan ko naman si Thea na nakaupo sa VIP seat. Abalang abala ang mga models and designers sa pagaayos ng mga susuotin. The theme was space so mostly black and white are the only colors that was used for the outfits. I'm wearing a black net mask, white coat and white slacks with black accessories around my upper body.
"Scar, restroom lang ako," Gail informed me before running, the call time was near.
"XZL models!" a staff uttered a loud call in the backstage.
We lined up like how we used to do it. Our model handlers were checking everyone to make sure that we're completely prepared.
"Scarlet, do you know where's Abbygail?" Ms. Gueva, one of the model handlers asked me.
"Yes Ma'am," I answered.
"Call her quick, please," her face was irritated so I nodded and ran to the restroom.
"Gail!" I shouted her name on the hallway.
I saw her standing in front of the restroom mirror, smelling something. "Gail! Are you okay?" I asked which made her shock. "It's our turn na."
She immediately kept something on her pocket, "Y-yes, let's go?" she asked back and pulled my hand.
I became worried to her, "Are you really okay?" sinigurado ko habang mabagal kaming tumatakbo dahil sa heels.
"Yes, of course but I was a bit dizzy kanina," she said. I told her to take medicine if she continued to feel unwell.
The Exodus fashion show was out of this world, like literally. When the runway was finished, we already changed our clothes. There's a simple celebration for the event's success.
I'm holding my glass of champagne while Thea was beside me, "Gago baka maglasing ako dito ng wala sa oras," pag-aalala niya.
I laughed. "Tanga hindi naman to club, wag ka magtwerk."
"Unless nasa harap ko si Xylo!" she giggled before sipping on his glass. 'Yan nanaman siya.
"Hi Scarlet," a familiar model greeted me. Lumingon naman si Thea sa ibang direksyon para makaiwas.
After some chitchat ay bumalik na ako kay Thea. Gail was talking to her like a close friend.
"Oh! Friend mo Scar?" Gail asked when Thea and I looked at each other.
"Yeah," I nodded, not a big deal.
"I was inviting her to our company's workshop! I could really see her potential," Gail smiled at Thea while holding a glass.
"Aba ang feeling," I teased Thea being shy. "Sige na tanggapin mo na, chance mo na ma-discover," tumawa ako ng malakas.
Gail handed her a calling card, "Call me if it's a yes," tinanggap naman 'to ni Thea.
Inalog ni Thea ang mga braso ko nang makaalis na si Gail. "Puta, artista na ako," binatukan ko naman siya habang tumatawa.
We spent our night in a hotel. Umuwi na rin kami kaagad sa sumunod na araw.
"You okay?" salubong sa'kin ni Travis na nasa garden at nakikipaglaro kay Wendy. Minamasahe ko ang ulo ko dahil medyo nahilo sa mahabang byahe.
"Yeah," I said in a husky voice.
I was about to take a nap when I heard a knock on the door. Travis entered the room holding a bed tray table.
"Want some soup?" he asked while slowly walking towards me.
I nodded, maybe it would be a help for my headache. Umupo ako sa kama at nilapag naman niya 'yon sa harap ko. It was a chicken soup and warm water.
"Baka may gayuma to ah," mahina kong sabi na agad naman niyang hinindian.
When I reached for the spoon, Travis' back of a hand went to my forehead. Tumingin naman ako ng masama sa kan'ya.
"Okay, no fever," he said in a monotone and half-smiled.
"Wala naman talaga," I said before taking a sip on the spoon.
"Eat well," tumalikod na siya sakin. "Baby," he added.
I hissed just enough for him to hear. Kung hindi lang masakit ang ulo ko ay
sinigawan ko na siya. The soup helped me somehow.
Nang matapos ang maikling tulog ay lumabas na ulit ako ng kwarto. I yawned and stretched my arms. Hindi ko nakita si Jen at Maya dahil nasa kwarto lang sila pag walang ginagawa. Nadatnan ko naman si Travis na pinapakain si Wendy.
I also crouched and started watching Wendy eating. Tumayo naman si Travis nang tumabi ako.
"Hi Wendy," I said in a cute voice. I also reached for her head to carress it. Dinilaan niya ang kamay ko pero hinayaan ko lang 'yon.
Nang matapos kong panuodin si Wendy ay naglakad-lakad pa ako sa labas. I went to the flower garden and smelled a violet primrose. "Ang bango," bulong ko.
"Hey," bumalik ako sa pagkakatayo nang marinig si Travis.
"What?" I asked.
"Uhm, can you join me later tonight?" he pursed his lips.
"Saan?" binalik ko ang atensyon sa mga bulaklak.
"Annual celebration," sagot niya.
"Ayoko nga," I copied his tone last time.
"Okay," patalikod na siya nang binawi ko ang sinabi ko.
"Teka joke lang," I chuckled. He faced me again. He bit his lower lip while laughing.
I'm now wearing a backless fuchsia sheath dress partnered with glass heels. I'm also wearing a shaped inlaid red crystal earrings and an LV purse. I put a simple make-up and tied my long hair.
I left my room and saw Travis wearing a black polo that is opened in three buttons. He's also in black slacks, black shoes, cream blazer and a gold watch. He also groomed his hair, he looked dashing.
Travis' mouth formed an 'o' when he saw me and scanned my whole look. I rolled my eyes and started walking downstairs.
When we arrived at the place, there was a red carpet and numbers of camera man waiting outside. Malalim akong huminga bago nagsimulang maglakad habang nakahawak sa braso ni Travis.
Cameras started flicking around and I was startled when a reporter came in front of us. "Ms. Senreyana, I didn't expect to see you here!" the reporter greeted me holding his mic.
Napilitan akong ngumiti, "Is he your new boyfriend?" the reporter added.
I glanced at Travis that was only looking at the reporter, "A-ah no," I did a hand gesture on my right hand while doing a fake laugh. I was still holding unto Travis' arm.
The reporter gave me a suspicious look, "You have a wedding ring righ there."
xoxo